Here are some FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS about SASO!
Who are we?
SASO, pronounced “say-so” and whose name stems from the catch phrase “If you need help, just SASO.” (Just Say So) is an inclusive high school boys service organization for boys who live in or attend high school in the town of Fairfield. We focus on having our mom and son teams participate in events that help partnered philanthropies. We provide personal growth for the boys to help them grow in such skills of leadership, service and interpersonal relationships.
How do we join?
SASO’s year runs from June 1- May 31. An application to join or renew will be available on our website starting on 5/1. Applications are accepted until 5/31 or until we reach capacity.
Who are the board members and liaisons?
Our board members are new or current members who serve for two years or more. They bring new ideas and enthusiasm as well as a passion for service. Our board meets once a month to review current happenings and needs. We hope that you will consider getting involved! If being part of the board is not for you, then please consider becoming a philanthropy liaison or event captain. Liaisons are direct connections to philanthropies and help to organize, plan and advertise our events. Event Captains are key leaders at given events who help to manage events and answer questions.
We applied. Are we in?
A receipt for membership payment will be emailed to you shortly after completing the membership application and payment. A welcome letter is emailed to all members once the membership drive closes in May. If you paid for membership and you're not receiving emails, please email us at
sasoboysmembership@gmail.com.
Do mom & son need to attend every event together?
As we are a mom/son organization, we ask that you complete a minimum of three events together, and we encourage you to attend all volunteer events together. After completing the three events together, your son can volunteer alone. Note: in person events require adult supervision, so coordinate with a friend if your son wants to attend and you can't make it.
Can we show up at an event if there are no SIGN-UP spots on the website?
We love and encourage enthusiastic volunteering however our philanthropies sometimes have specific numbers of volunteers needed. It is best to email the event captain and check with them before the event.
How do we sign up to volunteer?
Sign up for events by logging into the SASO Boys webpage and clicking on "Events" to see all available opportunities. Find an event you are interested in and click "sign-up/edit" and the select the boxes next to each of your names. Remember to click 'SAVE' at the bottom of the page! Please note: In some cases, the philanthropy will require two-signups; one signup through the SASO website and another signup through a website the philanthropy uses to track volunteers (such as Sign-up Genius). The event write-up will identify events that require two-signups.
is our contact information shared with philanthropies?
We may share your name, phone number and/or email addresses with a philanthropy if you have signed up to volunteer at one of their events. This information helps them know how volunteers to expect that day and also allows them to contact you directly in the event an event is delayed, postponed or cancelled.
what do we do if we can't make it to an event we signed up for?
Please do your best to sign up for events that you are able to commit to attending. Our philanthropies rely on us for help, and last-minute cancellations leave us — and more importantly them — scrambling. If something unexpected (like an illness) comes up, please try to find a replacement. If you are unable to find someone, and you absolutely cannot make the event, contact the captain, giving as much notice as possible. Also copy
sasoboysmembership@gmail.com.
How do I record that I completed an event?
Members are responsible for recording the events they've completed. Recording the event completion is simple:
1) Make sure you're logged in.
2) Go to the "View My Hours" | "View Hours" | "Record Hours".
Note: Only sons' events need to be recorded; mom's do not need to record their events.
What is PVSA (President’s Volunteer Service Award)?
The President's Volunteer Service Award is on a temporary pause, as decided by AmeriCorps effective May 27, 2025. At this time, we do not have a date for when the program will resume. We encourage interested candidates to continue to pursue this worthy goal and to track their hours following the PVSA guidelines.
The President’s Volunteer Service Award is the United States’ premier award program to encourage service. SASO is certified to bestow this award to members who qualify. It is awarded based on number of hours served during SASO membership year, within following age categories:
Teens (11-15) Hours: Bronze 50, Silver 75, Gold 100+
Young Adult (16-25) Hours: Bronze 100, Silver 175, Gold 250+
SASO members who wish to participate must contact Dawn Gitman at
sasoboyspvsa@gmail.com to register interest. To receive the award, boys must meet all requirements of PVSA which include serving a minimum of 30% of hours through SASO and a maximum of 70% hours through other service organization while tracking and certifying every hour on Google Docs. For more information and links, go to SASO’s website tab “
PVSA Requirements”
NOTE: General enrollment for PVSA will be accepted 6/1-9/30. All boys who wish to pursue PVSA should complete some events in the summer to assist with meeting PVSA eligibility.
